Busy Weekend for The Bar

Well after a busy banner weekend at The Bar we are back to blogging.

The Bridal Bar's very own Joyce Choi hosted a very special weekend, her sister's wedding!! Joyce has been hard at work all year, dedicating ALL of her free time to producing an AMAZING event for her family, her sister and fiance Jon, and their friends. The wedding finally took place last Saturday night at the Beverly Hills Hotel where almost three hundred guests gathered to celebrate the union of Grace and Jon. What a wedding it was! See the happy couple under the breathtaking pink and white gazebo outside in the garden. As guests wandered the grounds they were greeted with some spectacular touches. Check out the suede, flower, and paper programs for the ceremony, the custom-tagged parasols to keep guests cool, and the menus, napkin treatments and favors at each place setting, and the placecard-hanging tree and engagement portrait in the foyer. No detail was left undone...
Then guests entered the famous and oh-so grand Crystal Ballroom for dinner, dancing, and even some betting at the blackjack tables. With a custom oval dance floor and surrounding lounge guests partied 'til all hours of the night! The pink and chocolate brown theme was woven through the lighting, the trees and florals, napkin treatments, and even the favors and candy bar. And the finale of the night was the beautiful sugar flower cake designed by Fantasy Frostings.

Here is the Choi family just before Grace said her i do...Joyce, Grace, Anna, and Ellis; dad was there in spirit and pictured on a locket wrapped around the bride's beautiful bouquet. Way to go Joyce and congratulations to Grace and Jon!!

TV Guide Channel at The Bridal Bar

The Bridal Bar had the pleasure of hosting the TV Guide Channel on Friday for a taping of an upcoming weddings special. Check out some of the FAB decor Tic Tock Couture Florals provided for the day...with the help of the always wonderful BBJ Linen and Classic Party Rentals. Thanks to everyone involved who help make it happen!!
Stay tuned for the air date!

The High Price of Postage...

Well, it's that time again...stamp prices have increased, as of TODAY! So stop production on those invitation envelopes and make sure to get your invites weighed or re-weighed to accommodate the increase (you don't want a bunch of bounced back invitations now)! Check out USPS for more information and rates. 1 oz. envelopes are now $.41 cents and 2 oz. are $.58 cents.

For a more fun approach to your packages, check out Stamps.com to order custom stamps with your engagement photos or monogram - your guests will love it!

Docuvitae in Area Daily

Docuvitae Photography and Super 8 may not be a stranger to the media (they did capture Kevin Costner's nuptials in Aspen, Tatum O'Neil's in Malibu, and Dave Grohl's in Encino), but we are still trilled to see them in the news each and every time! Congratulations to Laura and everyone at Docuvitae for their write-up in the travel outlet Area Daily. Art from life is the headline and that explains their work perfectly (capturing life as art when you don't even realize they are present). Way to go!

Bride and Bloom and Preston Bailey

Monday night was the first anniversary party for the new bridal magazine, Bride and Bloom. The fabulous Preston Bailey was the guest of honor at the Cooper Design Building Penthouse in Downtown Los Angeles. Check out some of his unique tabletop designs from the event.




And check out some of the yummy treats on hand for guests...LOVE the cookies and milk idea (hint hint for your wedding).



Photos courtesy of Drew B Photography, thanks Drew!

Fantasy Frostings has Fantasy Prices!!

Fantasy Frostings is making brides' fantasies come true! The celebrity cake artists (credited for baking two of J. Lo's three wedding cakes, among others) are slashing their prices for the rest of the year. Fondant cakes starting at $4.50 a slice means you too can have the star treatment and yummy treats at your LA wedding. Call Leslie today and schedule your tasting and you're already on your way to getting a taste of the good life.
Fantasy Frostings (562) 941-6266.
Delivery throughout Southern California.

Dash Entertainment Hitting the Runways

Congratulations to Dash Entertainment who have been sending their talented celeb dj's across town these days not only for weddings, but runway shows as well. They were recently spotted spinning at the Ungaro Fashion Show at Neiman Marcus and at the launch party of G by Guess. Way to go guys!

And thanks to everyone who made it out to The Bridal Bar on Saturday for shopping with Weddingish. Good times had by all!

Weddingish Sample Sale & Greener Tee's

Reminding everyone to come out this Saturday, April 28th from 1pm to 4pm to The Bridal Bar for fun drinks by Martini & Rossi, yummy cookies and treats by Weddingish and great gifts, deals, and GREEN finds from Weddingish.

Check out their new line of organic cotton tanks for the bride and maids and come shop 'til you drop this weekend!

The Bridal Bar
624 N. Doheny Drive
West Hollywood, CA 90069
(cross street is Santa Monica Blvd.)

Saturday, April 28th
1pm to 4pm

Robert Evans Studios Shoots Singer Anastacia's Wedding in Mexico

Congratulations to Robert Evans Studios for another job well done and of course to Anastacia and her new husband on their recent nuptials.

This past weekend in a picturesque fishing village in Mexico TomKat's Photographer Robert Evans and his team captured the memories of the beautiful bride and her family and friends' every move over the several days of celebrations. Anastacia wed her bodyguard boyfriend Wayne Newton, after several years together. For the photos and more details on the weekend's festivities, pick up the next issue of People Magazine.

Make Every Day Earth Day

So yesterday being Earth Day and all we thought it not appropriate to flip the switch and log on to blog. Instead we speant the day in the beautiful Los Angeles outdoors "hugging people and planting trees," the sentiment Paul Frank Stores are suggesting. We hope you had a wonderful weekend outdoors as well and we will be back with more news soon...like the celebrity wedding shot by one of our photographers over the weekend...stay tuned!

Docuvitae's Very Own Green Wedding

Docuvitae's owner and founder Laura Kleinhenz had a little wedding of her own last fall and now we're here to tell you a little 'bit about it.

Laura and Daniel (and their dog) make one adorable family, but before they settled down in married town, they hosted an intimate affair with a few friends and loved ones by their sides. Shot of course by talented team members at Docuvitae Photography & Super 8, take a look at some of their vintage (a.k.a. green) details. They used and re-used family heirlooms to make their ceremony personal and eco-friendly. Wed under a vintage chuppah using an heirloom Kiddish cup they celebrated in their families' past and paid respect to their new family's future. At dinner, vintage champagne flutes and cloth napkins were used by guests in the outdoor, natural setting of a loved one's home.

Keeping it simple kept the event elegant. Laura and Daniel wed in the daylight which made for some beautiful images and saved on wasted electricity. Minimal florals meant minimal waste (and cost) and yet no detail was left undone. So, well done Laura & Daniel and congratulations on your nuptials (we just love it when one of our own leaves the nest)!! For more on this fabulous wedding, you can see the happy couple on E! News running now.

Hello!Lucky Green Invitations...

Hello!Lucky has been green with their custom designed invitations long before green was the new black. The girls are getting green, brown, and all kinds of colors in their letterpress studio these days.

Using 100% recycled fiber & tree-free stocks, now your invitations can actually save a tree! Not into the cause quite as much? The normal paper stocks used in the Hello!Lucky line are 100% cotton rag paper, which is also a renewable resource.

Invitations can cost our environment a lot more than your pocketbook will feel. Be conscious when ordering and save on the waste of your wedding right from the start!

Weddingish Sample Sale! Saturday, April 28th

Weddingish and The Bridal Bar are hosting a sample sale! Take a break from wedding planning and saving the environment this month and come check out the latest and greatest in wedding party gifts and favors (at sample sale prices)!!!

Saturday, April 28th from 1pm to 4pm stop by and sip on complimentary cocktails by Martini & Rossi Asti and enjoy wedding cookies by Weddingish while shopping the day away!

Get great finds for you and your maids (and check our any last minute event professionals you may still be looking for too). Make it a wedding day, and bring your gals over to the bar and we'll see ya here!

When you leave, you'll be dressed like Eva, Marcia, and the rest of the cutting-edge celeb brides sporting these wears...

For questions, feel free to give us a ring at (310) 858-0119.

1pm to 4pm
Saturday, April 28th

The Bridal Bar
624 N. Doheny Drive
West Hollywood, CA 90069
(cross street is Santa Monica Blvd.)

End Design: You will be Green with Envy!

End Design is a full service floral and decor house with vast knowledge and experience in the greener side of life.

Having designed Alicia Silverstone's nuptials back in 2001, Eden Rodriguez, owner of End Design, knows how to go so green, your wedding can even be vegan! Whether you opt to wed outdoors in a natural setting (one location saves on fuel omissions versus two venues) or a formal hotel affair - find one that implements recycling programs and other eco-friendly business practices, your decor can come from the earth, not harm it.

With little touches of soy-based candlelight instead of energy-exhausting prop lighting and pulling decor from the spot where you wed, green decor is easier than you think. Vintage mason jars (pictured below) make for great recycled decor, as do an eclectic array of gathered chairs for seating (pictured above), the options are truly endless (at End Design - hehehe)...

Call Eden for more information on how she can honor your dream wedding and the earth equally!

Renaissance Studios Films Donates to the Greater Good

You can make a difference and go green with Renaissance Studios Films. The boutique company of wedding documentarians will capture your big day on vintage Super 8 film, 16mm film, and digital video, but what you don't know is -that with every film they make, they not only make you happy but make someone less fortunate happy as well.

Since it's inception in 2001, a portion of all Renaissance Studios proceeds have be donated to various charitable organizations with a sensitivity towards protecting the environment and combating global HIV/AIDS, poverty and social injustice.

Pictured here are co-owners Aaron and Chrissy Florence on a trip to Africa learning about the ecology of western Africa, and caring for people with polio and HIV/AIDS. To learn more about their causes and projects, click here.

Every little bit helps!

Mariah Nicole Mineral Makeup

Mariah Nicole Makeup and Hair Artistry has always been green, having built her business on the foundation of pure mineral products. Mariah custom blends her makeup to match each clients' skin using all mineral makeup components. The product is not only better for the environment, but better for your skin too - there are no perfumes, preservatives, dyes, or talc in the products, just pure minerals. Check out Mariah mixing one of her custom foundation blends... To learn more about these products and environmentally-friendly services, check out her brand spankin' new website by clicking here.

GREEN IS THE NEW BLACK

The Bridal Bar and many of its fabulous vendors practice eco-conscience business and offer "green wedding" services. EARTH DAY IS THIS MONTH, APRIL 22nd! And so in honor and celebration of this widely popular trend and this special day, we will be dedicating many blog entries over the next few weeks to those who can help you host a sustainable wedding. Speaking a foreign language to you? Going green simply means saving the environment wherever you can when planning your wedding. It can be as simple as selecting one venue instead of two in order to cut down on gas and the fuel emissions of guests travelling to multiple venues. Or it can be as elaborate as using reclaimed wood in building your decor, seeking out vintage details instead of buying new ones, hiring an organic caterer and florist, or even traveling to an eco-friendly hotel for your honeymoon. The bottom line, no matter how dedicated to the cause you are, there are baby steps that can be taken (as well as big ones) to limit the waste your wedding produces. So check back in the weeks to come and we will update you with tips and trends to help make that happen!

Photos Have Finally Arrived!

Take a look at the first few photos of The Bridal Bar and Classic Party Rentals' double size booth at A Soolip Wedding. We had such a great time as always, it's so fun to see all the familiar faces when the industry gets together for events like this! It was especially fun to see so many familiar brides visit us (and cocktail with us too - you know who you are :)

A special thanks to Sid at EventCo for the amazing pink lighting and to Jennifer and Becca of Fiore Designs for the stunning florals and tabletop designs. And don't you just LOVE those chocolate brown ottomans and sofas!?!? They are some of the yummy new products from Classic Party Rentals.

Until next year (or until we have more photos to share)...

BBJ News...

Check out this stunning tabletop and new design patterns by BBJ Linen. They've launched a ton of new swatches this year and now you can read about their monthly updates in the e-newsletter.To sign up and receive all their latest and greatest simply fill out the form here. BBJ has offices across the country, so no matter where your event, let there be linens!And don't forget, a little linen goes a long way... :)

Step Up Inspiration Awards

It's time for the 4th Annual Step Up Inspiration Awards!

A fantastic charitable organization (mixed with some great networking) is hosting its annual gala on April 20th, 2007 at Beverly Wilshire Hotel (Reg Bev Wil).

Individual tickets start at $125 (tax deductible) and will include lunch, teen photo exhibit, silent auction, and awards program honoring Sara Ramirez (Grey's Anatomy), among others. Join us in honoring extraordinary women, celebrating philanthropy, and getting together for some fun (and elbow rubbing with Jessica Alba of course)!

Tickets and information available online at the Step Up website or by calling (213) 382-8012. Get your girlfriends together and come out and support local women's charities!!

A Soolip Wedding This Weekend!

A Soolip Wedding, Los Angeles’ premier bridal event for the stylish, modern bride, brings together a carefully chosen selection of today’s most distinctive, upscale bridal resources. Mixing luxury national brands with local LA gems, this boutique bridal experience offers brides, their wedding parties, and event and wedding professionals the chance to see artistry and beauty from individuals and companies that share a similar aesthetic and commitment to quality.

This year, A Soolip Wedding introduces A Green Wedding for the ecoconscious bride and groom. Environmentally sustainable elegance now is possible with aesthetically pleasing choices, ranging from tree-free papers and other reclaimed materials, to organically grown and wild-harvested ingredients for festive party foods, to party favors that have a life beyond the event.

Guests will also have the opportunity to drop in on “Conversations with Experts,” talks by bridal industry professionals sharing their advice and secrets of the trade. These experts include Kathy Nenneker of Los Angeles Weddings, Wanda Wen of Soolip, and Helene Hale from Gearys.

WHEN: Sunday, March 18, 2007
11am – 3pm

WHERE: Social Hollywood
6525 Sunset Boulevard
Los Angeles, California 90028

HOW: Tickets may be purchased online at www.asoolipwedding.com, or by
calling 310.860.1300
For event information call 310.860.1300

PRICE: $65 per person includes: fashion show, luncheon, gift bag, cake and
champagne tasting

We hope to see you there and be sure to stop by The Bridal Bar booth and say hello!

Patina Bride in LA Splash Magazine

Check out The Patina Bride review in LA Splash...

More Things We Love...

Check out Fiore Designs' centerpiece innovation that Jennifer Katz created for The Patina Bride Event. She incorporate several tiers of florals, boxes, sand and succulents, with a live beta fish in the middle vase! Check out his home (middle photo), with matching calla lily - he's one lucky little fishy! And not to worry, no fish were harmed in the making of this masterpiece (he has a home with Fiore for good)...

Things we truly love...

One of the many great things about The Patina Bride Event is that is brings out the best in our event professionals. All at once we get to see the cutting edge trends, the hot new looks, and even hotter new products on the bridal market. Case in point, the ICE CHAIR!

Classic Party Rentals' newest edition to their vast collection is this uber-chic ice chiavari chair fit for a New York nightclub or enchanted fairytale wedding. Be one of the first to dazzle your guests will these new decor items and add a little ice to your event! For rental information, please contact Leticia Ortega at (310) 202-0011 or at lortega@classicpartyrentals.com.

The Patina Bride Event

Thanks to everyone who made it out in the rain on Oscar Sunday for The Patina Bride Event at the world famous Walt Disney Concert Hall.

The Bridal Bar event professionals were out in force as they showed off their stunning wears and works of art to the happy engaged couples. Check out some of our favorite photos by the amazing Red Loft Studios.



Here are the lovely ladies from Hello! Lucky and Red Loft Studios.



While guests toured the property and met with vendors, they were treated with yummy foods by Patina Catering and delicious desserts by Fantasy Frostings.




...and everyone indulged on cocktails by MARTINI & ROSSI Asti.



A special thanks to Patina Catering, Classic Party Rentals, Kirstie Kelly Couture, and everyone involved in making the event a wonderful experience for all who attended!

See you next year!

The Patina Bride is Almost Here!

Don't forget about the fabulous event happening next Sunday (yes, Oscar Sunday, but you'll be home by red carpet arrivals - we promise)! The Patina Bride at the world famous Walt Disney Concert Hall on Feb. 25th from 11am to 3pm will make you feel like a celeb on the red carpet of your own fabulous wedding - the Oscars have nothin' on you! Check out couture gowns by Kirstie Kelly, delicious foods by Patina Catering, wedding cake by Fantasy Frostings, cocktails by Martini & Rossi Asti, tours of the grand concert hall, showcases by celebrity coordinators, florists, photographers, and so much more. You don't want to miss this interactive event featuring top Los Angeles event professionals. and the envelope please...

Tickets available at the door, by emailing eventrsvp@patinagroup.com, or by calling (213) 972-7565. Tickets are $35 each (includes light lunch and complimentary parking).

See you there!

Renaissance Studios "Speaks" to their Audience

Renasissance Studios creates graceful wedding art films for brides, babies, families, and more. Their uniquely elegant wedding and family stories are unobtrusively captured on romantic Super 8mm movie film, or through a beautiful blend of film and latest in digital video and audio technology.

BUT WAIT! That's not all! Using their Emmy Award winning techniques, Renaissance Studios offers sound to Super 8! Sound? For the savvy bride-to-be this sounds impossible! Super 8 film is vintage (back in the day when there was no sound in films). To the less techy brides, you may wonder why you would want a video without sound in the first place?? Well, the grainy, vintage, classic, and utterly beautiful look of Super 8 films give your wedding video a timeless and romantic feel that you don't find with the digital medium. Companies lace music (and vocals) over these films for a personalized wedding soundtrack, but what if your vows were dubbed over the image of you speaking them to your spouse? Word for word, to match the picture on the screne. Brilliant! The editing and transition is flawless, no one will ever know those tears and sniffles weren't found on the original film. And the result - tears in the audience for sure!

And what if you're friends won't come over for the viewing party?? Renaissance Studios gives you a iPod friendly downloaded version to take with you anywhere...watch it on a plane, in line buying those thank you notes, show your co-workers the drunken clips of your boss, the possibilities are endless!

It's Not To Late to Say I Love You this Valentine's Day...

Thought Tic Tock only made beautiful flowers for weddings in Los Angeles? Think again! Order from the florist to the stars, Tic-Tock Couture Florals and tell your fiance how much you love them (Hallmark holiday or not - you're engaged!!)

Owner, Eddie Zaratsian has designed dozens of stunning arrangements to light your honey's fire...especially this mint julep roses display complete with a Belle Fleur candle and matches on a vintage vanity tray.

Calling all Brides!

Every wonder what happens to those beautiful hand-stitched, lace, beaded, couture ball gowns that never make it down the aisle? Bridal Gown Hell? NO! Bride-to-be Heaven!

From one bride to another, this new, unworn Vera Wang Couture Bridal Gown is looking for a new home & an aisle to strut down.

Her name is Nathalie, she's from the Spring 2006 Luxe Collection, a stunning a-line Chantilly lace ivory dress. Her bridal size is a 10. Measurements are bust: 37", waist: 29.5", hip: 39.5", length: 60" and has not been altered in any way. Nathalie retails $11,890 but this bride-to-be no-longer is selling her for $7500 or best offer.

For more pictures, questions, or further information on this dress, please contact Pegah at xpulpfreex@yahoo.com or (323) 804-4077 and leave a message for a phone call back.

Red Loft Studios - The San Francisco Treat!

Ever thought of what's missing in the city by the bay and couldn't think of what it was?

-Fog? (no there's plenty of that)

-Sourdough bread? (Nope, many of us have ruined our low carb diet in SF)

-Hills? (oh my, have you ever walked up Lombard?)

Still stumped?....

Red Loft Studios is what has been missing!!

The girls of Red Loft are taking on San Francisco this wedding season! Tammy and Nikki are moving up to No Cal to spear head the expansion and bring a little ray of sunshine onto the bay. Not to fear, they're still So Cal rooted, they just want to make the world a little loftier, one city at a time!

So visit the ladies at their loft in Long Beach, or check 'em out while you're visiting San Francisco.


P.S. You can also check Red Loft out in this season's The Knot Northern California Magazine.